Explosions after explosions continued to erupt. The sound of gunfire filled the air. Thick smoke began to engulf the warehouse, making visibility increasingly difficult.
Rayyan tried to steady his breathing, hiding behind a large metal barrel while gripping his pistol.
In front of him, Rinthara was giving orders to her subordinates, ensuring they maintained their formation.
But in the midst of the chaos—
BANG!
A gunshot rang out, and something unexpected happened.
Rinthara jerked backward, her eyes widening.
Rayyan could only watch—shocked and frozen.
Blood began to stain Rinthara’s clothes.
She had been shot.
And the shot had come from their own side.
From Han.
"HAN?!" Rayyan shouted, disbelief coursing through him.
Rinthara dropped to her knees, her hand clutching her blood-soaked chest. She turned toward Han, her gaze filled with disappointment and fury.
"You… why…?" Her voice was weak, yet it pierced deep into Rayyan’s heart.
But Han only smirked, lowering his pistol after taking the shot.
"New orders, Rinthara. You’re not supposed to survive the night."
"You bastard, Han!" Rayyan lunged at him, but several of Rafael’s men appeared from behind, pointing their weapons at him.
Rayyan halted.
This trap wasn’t just to take down Rinthara—it was to erase him from this world too.
And Han was part of that plan.
"I thought you were loyal to Rinthara!" Rayyan gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with rage.
Han chuckled. "Loyal? To a woman who only knows how to kill and control everything? I’ve been waiting for the chance to bring her down for a long time."
Rayyan shifted his gaze to Rinthara, who was growing weaker. Her breathing was shallow, yet she still tried to stand.
That woman would never surrender so easily.
But Rayyan knew—if he didn’t act now, Rinthara would die tonight.
And for some reason—he couldn’t bear to see that happen.
Han raised his pistol again, this time aiming straight at Rinthara’s head.
"Goodbye, boss."
BANG!
Another shot was fired—but it wasn’t from Han.
Blood splattered into the air.
And this time—Han was the one who fell to the ground.
Rayyan still held his pistol, his hands trembling.
He had shot Han.
He had betrayed his own mission.
Immediately, chaos erupted. Han and Rafael’s men were stunned, but they quickly redirected their guns at Rayyan.
But Rayyan didn’t care.
He rushed toward Rinthara, who was now barely conscious.
"I won’t let you die tonight." His voice was filled with determination.
Rinthara tried to speak, but before she could say anything—
Rayyan lifted her and ran.
Bullets whizzed past them, but Rayyan didn’t care.
He had already made his decision.
Tonight was not a night of betrayal.
Tonight was the night he saved Rinthara.
---
Rayyan held Rinthara tightly in his arms, his breath ragged, his chest rising and falling rapidly as adrenaline surged through him. He knew they had little time.
Bullets continued to zip through the air, ricocheting off metal walls and sparking upon impact. Screams from both sides echoed in the background, but Rayyan focused on only one thing—saving Rinthara.
"Hold on, Rinthara!" Rayyan gritted his teeth, pressing his hand against her wound while sprinting toward an old truck parked at the edge of the warehouse.
Rinthara groaned in pain, her face growing paler. "Rayyan… leave me. You can still save yourself."
"Don’t say something so stupid," Rayyan snapped, his voice laced with anger and fear he refused to acknowledge.
He reached under the truck’s seat for the spare key—luckily, the engine still worked. Without wasting time, he placed Rinthara in the passenger seat and quickly got behind the wheel.
"Rayyan!" A voice called from behind.
Rayyan turned and saw a man aiming a pistol at him—one of Rafael’s men.
BANG!
The shot was fired, but Rayyan was faster. He raised his gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the man square in the chest, making him stagger back as blood gushed from his mouth.
Without hesitation, Rayyan slammed his foot on the gas. The truck sped away from the warehouse, leaving the burning battlefield behind.
Rayyan gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes focused on the dark, dusty road. The dense forest on either side felt like it was closing in, adding to the tension.
Rinthara lay weakly in the passenger seat, her breathing unsteady.
"Stay with me, Rinthara," Rayyan murmured, occasionally pressing against her wound to slow the bleeding.
"I don’t think… I’ll last much longer." Her voice was barely a whisper.
Rayyan clenched his jaw, a sharp pain twisting in his chest. "Don’t say that! You’re strong, aren’t you? I know you, Rinthara. You’re not the type to give up!"
"But… I’m tired, Rayyan."
Rayyan glanced at her—and for the first time, he saw something in her eyes he had never seen before.
Fear.
Rinthara, the reigning queen of the underworld. Rinthara, who never showed weakness. Rinthara, who always controlled every situation.
But tonight, Rinthara looked like just another woman. A wounded human, scared and vulnerable, in need of someone by her side.
And somehow, that realization struck Rayyan deeper than he expected.
"Don’t fall asleep, Rinthara," Rayyan raised his voice, trying to keep her conscious. "We’re almost there. I’ll find help."
"Rayyan…" Rinthara whispered his name.
"What?" Rayyan responded, still focused on the road.
"If I die… will you remember me?"
"Shut up."
"I’m serious, Rayyan."
Rayyan gripped the wheel tighter. "You’re not going to die. Don’t talk nonsense."
"But if I do?"
Rayyan turned to her—and in that moment, he saw something that made his heart ache even more.
A single tear.
A tear fell from Rinthara’s eye.
His heart clenched painfully.
"You’re not going to die, Rinthara. I promise."
Rayyan finally stopped at a small secluded house deep in the forest. It was one of the emergency hideouts that Rinthara herself had set up.
He jumped out of the truck and opened the passenger door. Without hesitation, he carried Rinthara inside and laid her down on the couch.
Blood had already soaked through his clothes.
"Wait here. I’ll get the medical kit."
Rayyan moved toward the kitchen, searching for anything that could stop the bleeding. But before he could go further—
A weak hand grabbed his.
He turned and saw Rinthara looking at him, her eyes growing dimmer.
"Don’t go… stay with me."
Rayyan swallowed hard. There was something in her request that he couldn’t refuse.
He sat back down beside her. Rinthara took a slow breath, her gaze never leaving his.
"Why did you save me, Rayyan?"
Rayyan didn’t answer. He didn’t know the answer himself.
Maybe because his original mission no longer mattered.
Maybe because he didn’t want to see her die.
Or maybe… because his heart had already chosen Rinthara, without him realizing it.
He held her hand tightly.
"I can't let you die."
Rinthara gave a faint smile, though the pain was evident on her face. "Rayyan… have you fallen for me?"
Rayyan froze.
He didn’t answer.
Because the truth was… he wasn’t sure himself.
But one thing he knew—
He didn’t want to lose Rinthara.
And that was enough for him to fight with everything he had for this woman.
The hideout was silent. Only Rinthara’s weak breaths and the slow ticking of the wall clock could be heard. Rayyan was still holding her hand tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear from his grasp.
Rinthara closed her eyes for a moment, her face contorted in pain. "Rayyan…" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"I'm here," Rayyan replied, his fingers gently caressing her hand.
"I'm cold."
Without hesitation, Rayyan took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. "I'll warm up this place. You have to hold on, Rinthara."
Rinthara opened her eyes and gave a weak smile. "You always say I’m strong… but look at me now."
Rayyan gritted his teeth. It hurt to see Rinthara like this. She wasn’t the same woman he knew—the one brimming with confidence, always standing tall before everyone.
But at this moment, Rinthara was just a wounded human.
Rayyan gently stroked her cheek. "You’re still strong, Rinthara. Never think otherwise."
Rinthara sighed softly. "I've done so many terrible things in my life, Rayyan. You know that, don’t you?"
Rayyan swallowed hard. "I know."
"And yet, you still saved me… even knowing who I am?"
Rayyan fell silent. His gaze locked onto hers, searching for an answer within them.
"I don’t care who you are, Rinthara. I just know… I can't let you die."
Rinthara let out a faint chuckle, though her voice was weak. "You’re strange, Rayyan."
Rayyan gave a small smile. "And you’re as stubborn as ever."
They stared at each other for a few moments before Rinthara suddenly gripped his hand tighter. Her eyes were growing heavier, her voice fainter.
"Rayyan… if I go first, don’t cry for me, okay?"
"Shut up, Rinthara." Rayyan’s voice trembled. "Don't say such things."
"I just want you to know…" Rinthara lifted her frail hand and touched his face. "I'm grateful that we met."
Rayyan felt his heart clench painfully. "Don't say things like this, Rinthara. I won't let you die."
Tears threatened to fall from his eyes, but he held them back. He didn’t want her to see him weak.
Slowly, Rinthara smiled. "If I survive… will you stay with me?"
Rayyan didn’t answer right away. He knew what she meant.
All this time, he had entered this world for a mission. For duty. But now—seeing Rinthara in front of him, wounded and weak—his heart whispered something different.
Finally, he nodded. "I'll stay, Rinthara."
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she merely smiled and closed them slowly.
Rayyan kept holding her hand, praying silently.
Because he knew—
Rinthara had to live.
For him. For them.
Rayyan didn’t move a muscle. His fingers remained tightly wrapped around Rinthara’s hand as if letting go would mean losing her forever. Her breathing was slow, her body still weak. The blood staining her clothes had begun to dry, but the pain still clung to her like a shadow.
A few of Rinthara’s men moved swiftly through the hideout, bringing whatever medical supplies they could find. One of them, a woman named Dao, rushed over with a syringe.
"Rayyan, I need to clean her wound and stop the bleeding."
Rayyan nodded but didn’t release Rinthara’s hand. He couldn’t bear to be apart from her, even for a second.
Dao got to work—pressing a clean cloth against Rinthara’s wound, injecting antibiotics, and carefully bandaging her injuries. Rinthara groaned softly, her eyes fluttering open slightly, but she was too weak to speak.
"Hold on, Rinthara," Rayyan whispered. "You're strong, remember?"
Rinthara tried to smile, though it was faint. "Aren’t you tired of repeating that?" Her voice was hoarse, but there was still that familiar teasing edge.
Rayyan exhaled in relief. As long as she could still speak, he knew she was still fighting.
"I’ll keep saying it until you believe it, Rinthara."
Slowly, Rayyan reached out and brushed his fingers through her hair. Rinthara looked at him with heavy eyes. She tried to lift her hand to touch his face, but her body was too weak.
"Rayyan…" her voice was barely a whisper.
"Yeah?"
"I'm scared…"
Rayyan stiffened. Rinthara—the woman who always stood with pride, who never bowed to anyone—was now admitting that she was afraid.
Rayyan squeezed her hand tighter. "I’m here. You don’t have to be scared, Rinthara."
Rinthara gave a small smile. "Don't lie… you're scared too, aren’t you?"
Rayyan swallowed hard. He was. He was terrified of losing her. Terrified that this would end in a tragedy he couldn’t stop.
"I'm scared of losing you," he finally admitted.
Rinthara’s smile softened, her eyes growing glassy. "If I go… will you remember me?"
Rayyan felt his chest tighten. He shook his head quickly. "Don't say that. You’re not going anywhere, Rinthara."
Rinthara chuckled weakly, though it was filled with pain. "I just want to know… if I’m gone, will you still remember me?"
Rayyan lowered his head, his forehead touching hers. "I will never forget you."
Rinthara’s eyes welled with tears. She tried to lift her hand again, and this time, Rayyan helped her. He placed her hand over his chest, where his heart was pounding hard.
"Listen, Rinthara. My heart is still beating, isn’t it?"
She nodded slowly.
"As long as my heart beats, I will make sure you live."
Rinthara closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Rayyan…"
Rayyan kissed her hand, his grip unwavering. "I won't let you die, Rinthara."
And for the first time in her life, Rinthara believed in someone other than herself.
Rayyan held onto Rinthara’s hand tightly, as if through his touch alone, he could transfer his strength to her. But her grip was growing weaker. Her breathing turned irregular. The shine in her eyes was fading.
"Rinthara?" His voice was hoarse.
She tried to smile, but her lips were far too pale. "I… I'm tired, Rayyan."
"You can't sleep now," Rayyan pleaded, his heart shattering. "Please, Rinthara, hold on."
She tried to say something, but no sound came out. Her body suddenly convulsed, her eyes widening for a brief second before her eyelids shut completely. Her hand, once clutching his, went limp.
Rayyan froze.
"Rinthara?"
No answer.
"RINTHARA!"
Panic surged through him. He frantically pressed his fingers against her neck, searching for a pulse. It was still there—but too faint. Her breathing was barely audible. Her body was burning up.
Dao, who had been watching from a distance, immediately rushed over. She pressed the back of her hand to Rinthara’s forehead, her expression turning grim.
"She has an infection, Rayyan. Her condition is getting worse. If we don’t act now, she could—"
"DON'T SAY IT!" Rayyan roared, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He couldn’t hear it. He refused to accept the possibility that Rinthara might… die.
Dao bit her lip before quickly turning to the others. "Get the car ready. We need to move her somewhere safe and get her proper treatment!"
Rayyan swiftly lifted Rinthara into his arms. "Don’t die on me, Rinthara. Don’t do this to me."
His eyes burned, his heart felt like it was being torn apart. This woman—the one he once considered an enemy, the one who had somehow slipped into his heart—was now teetering on the edge of death in his arms.
And Rayyan couldn’t bear to lose her.
"Hold on, Rinthara," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I’ve never asked you for anything before. But this time, I’m asking for just one thing…"
He took a deep breath, his forehead pressing against hers.
"Please stay alive."